Wringer and the like



June 16, 1942. vw, L. KAUFFMAN, 2D

WRINGER AND THE LIKE Pilid Oct. 5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n WVENTOR BY 7 ATTORNEYS J1me- 1942- w. L. KAUFFMAN, 20 2,286,811

-WRINGER AND THE LIKE Filed'Oct, 5, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WKF H I Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRINGER AND THE LIKE Walter L. Kaufiman, II, Erie, Pa., assignor to Lovell Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 5, 1939, Serial No. 298,097

7 Claims. (Cl. 68-263)- Wringers and the like, as commonly made, employ some means for releasing pressure on the rolls. Inasmuch as this pressure is exerted through resilient means, when suddenly released there is a violent release movement of the release mechanism. However this is accomplished, this release movement ordinarily involves some danger to the operator.

The present invention is designed to retard this release movement without interfering with the comparatively free movement to accomplish release.

In carrying out the invention, the resistance to acceleration involving a stopping and starting of an element subjected to the release movement is utilized. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows an elevation of a wringer, partly in section. 1

Fig. 2 an enlarged view of one end of the wringer showing the connection between the top bar and the frame in set position.

Fig. 3 a similar view as the connection is being broken between the top bar and the frame.

Fig. 4 a section on the line -'i4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1 showing the details of the release mechanism at the opposite end of the wringer.

Fig. 6 a section on the line 6--8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows the opposite end of the wringer in the act of releasing,

Fig. 8 a section on the line 88 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 a perspective view of the retarding element at the release end of the wringer.

Fig. 10 an alternative construction of the retarding element.

l marks a base of a Wringer, 2 and 2a side stiles secured to the base, and 3 a top member or top bar completing the frame. Rolls 4 and 5 are mounted in the frame, these rolls having shafts 6 and 1 respectively. The shaft 6 is journaled in bearings 8 arranged in the side stiles and resting on the base. Bearings 9 slidingly mounted in the side stiles are provided for the shaft 1. A spring I 0 rests on the bearing blocks 9 and the tension of this spring is adjusted by a screw l l arranged in the top bar.

A resetting lever 12 is hinged at IS on the top bar. It is connected by a link l4, this link being U-shaped in cross section and being connected to the lever by a cross pin l5 and to the stile 211 by a cross pin It, the cross pin extending through ears I60. on the outer face of the stile.

Pivots l3, l5 and I6 are arranged to provide a slightly unstable condition of the reset lever i? when in set position. A trip mechanism holding the reset lever against release is as follows: A notch I! is arranged in the bottom of the link 14 and this is engaged by a hook I8 which is arranged in the bottom of the lever l9. The lever I9 i pivoted by means of a .pin on the face of the stile; The upper end of the lever. 19 has a forward projection 2| and a spring 22 is anchored -on the projection 2| and by a return bend 23 on the ear 16a, this spring yieldingly holds the catch l8 in'locked position. The lever has acam slot 24, which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 25 fixed in a lever 26. The lever 26 is carried by a pivot end-21 of a trip rod 23, the pivot end extending through a part of. the stile forming a pivotal mounting for the rod.

. WhenLthe trip bar is operated, the pin 25, operating. eitherthe upper or bottom cam face of the slot '24, dependingv on whether the trip bar is pushed'or pulled out, rocks the lever l9 which releasesthe catch.

Atrip bar 29. similar to the trip bar 28 is arranged at the opposite side, of the wringer frame and a pivot end 30 of this trip bar carries a lever 3| which isprovided with a slot 32. The pin 25 extends through the slot 32 so that an operation of the trip bar 29 involves a movement of the pin 25 and a consequent camming action on the lever 19.

When the top bar is released, the release end swings upwardly. The opposite .end of the bar issecured to the stile by a retarding mechanism as follows: The stile has a zig-zag slot 33 at its upper end and a rod 34 extends through the walls of the top bar, the top bar being of channel form, and when the bar isin set position, the pin 35 is in the bottom of the zig-Zag slot.

When the top bar -is freed and moves upwardly, the pressure on the top bar, acting through the rod on the inclined surface 35, cams the top bar to the left and this throws the rod 34 against a stop shoulder 36. The rod 34 camming off this shoulder and exending up against a cam surface 31 throws the top bar toward the right, passing through an upper portion 38 of the slot 33 until it engages a shoulder 39. Ordinarily the upward movement Will be arrested at this point, and the top bar willsettle back slightly in the slot. If not arrested, it will be cammed by the surface 39 again to the left and the energy in the acceleration of these movements retards and slows the upthrow.

Preferably a retarding device is also provided for the release end of the top bar. A retarding element 40 in the form of a U-shaped plate has perforations 40a, and a rod 4! extends through the Walls of the top bar and the perforations 430, thus pivotally connecting this element to the top bar. A zig-zag slot 42 is arranged in the sides of the element 40 and these slots engage pins 43 in the front and rear walls of the stile.

When the top bar is released, the action of the pin onthe walls of the slot 42 oscillate the element and this back and forth movement with a lateral stop and start with each reversal involves an accelerative resistance retarding the upthrow. The more violent the upthrow, the greater the acceleration, and consequently the greater the resistance.

In Fig. an alternative construction is shown in which the sides of the element 44 are connected at the top so that the element may be withdrawn without lifting the upper hearing. The element 44 has perforations 44a for receiving the rod 4|. The sides are connected by a top connecting piece 45 with a zig-zag slot- 46. The operation is similar to that of the element 40 except that it may be removed without carrying the upper bearing.

It will be understood that. the retarding device at the release end of the wringer may be provided without the retarding device at the op posite end, the opposite end being supplied with the common interlocking shoulders, and, on the other hand, that the end opposite the release device may be provided with the retarding mechanism without the inclusion of a retarding device at the releasing end of the top bar.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a wringer or the like, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure means for the rolls; a release device releasing the pressure means; and a retarding device slowing the release movement of the release device comprising a retarding element subjected to the release movement and means compelling a back and forth movement of the element as the pressure release movement proceeds.

2. In a wringer or the like, the combination of a frame comprising detachable bottom and top frame members; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure means exerting pressure from the top frame member to the rolls; a pressure release device releasing the top member; and a retarding means between the bottom and top member of the frame slowing the upthrow of the top member when released comprising a retarding element attached to one frame member and having a zig-zag path connection with the other member compelling a back and forth, stop and start yielding movement of the element as the pressure release movement proceeds,

3. In a wringer or the like, the combination of a frame comprising detachable bottom and top frame members; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure means exerting pressure from the top frame member to the rolls; a pressure release device releasing the top member; and a retarding means between the bottom and top member of the frame slowing the upthrow of the top member when released comprising a retarding element attached to one frame member and having a zig-zag slot and pin connection with the other member compelling a back and forth, stop and start yielding movement of the element as the pressure release movement proceeds.

4. Ina wringer or the like, the combination of a frame comprising detachable bottom and top frame members; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure means exerting pressure from the top frame member to the rolls; a pressure release device releasing the top member; a retarding element pivotally attached to one member, said element having a zig-zag slot; and an engaging element on the other member extending into the slot and compelling a back and forth movement of the retarding element as the members separate when released.

5. In a wringer or the like, the combination of a frame comprising detachable bottom and top frame members; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure means exerting pressure from the top frame member to the rolls; a pressure release device releasing the top member; a retarding element pivotally attached to the top member and extending into the bottom member, said element having a zig-zag slot; and an engaging element on the bottom member extending into the slot compelling a back and forth movement of the retarding element as the members separate when released.

6. In a wringer or the like, the combination of a frame comprising detachable bottom and top frame members; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure means exerting pressure from the top member on the rolls; a pressure release device for the top member; a detachable connection at one end of the wringer comprising a zig-zag passage; and an engaging means on the other member of the wringer compelling a back and forth movement of the top member as the members separate and as the pressure is released.

'7. In a wringer or the like, the combination of a frame comprising detachable bottom and top frame members; rolls mounted in the frame; a

pressure means exerting pressure from the top frame member to the rolls; a pressure release device releasing one end of the top bar; a retarding device at the release end of the wringer comprising a retarding element subjected to the release movement of the top member of the frame as the release movement proceeds; and a detachable connection between the top member of the frame and the bottom member of the frame at the opposite end of the wringer comprising a zig-zag passage in one member and an engaging means in the other member compelling a back and forth movement of the top member as the members separate and as the pressure is released.

WALTER L. KAUFFMAN, II. 

